Support Jake Dawson's Good Scan Cans

Jake Dawson and his wife, Taylor, are creating a  fundraising movement that represents not only a personal triumph but a collective effort to support ongoing research and bring hope to others battling neuroendocrine cancer. Good Scan Cans is an easy, fun, and meaningful way to support Jake and so many other people with  neuroendocrine cancer.

Jake Dawson’s experience with neuroendocrine cancer began in April 2020 when he first felt severe abdominal pain. Initially misdiagnosed with an ulcer and told to eliminate spicy food and alcohol from his diet, Jake’s symptoms persisted and intensified. “The pain felt like my insides were rotting,” he recalled. Despite multiple visits to the emergency room and various tests, it wasn’t until June 2021 that a CT scan revealed a mass on his pancreas. Further examination during surgery uncovered cancerous lesions on his liver. Reflecting on this period, Jake said, “I was very uneducated about what this was. When they told me I had a mass, I naively thought antibiotics would fix it.”

Jake’s treatment has been challenging. He underwent the Whipple procedure, which involved a lengthy and complex surgery. Post-surgery, he faced severe complications, including pancreatitis and significant weight loss. Jake also began treatment with octreotide and, later, lanreotide.

Throughout his ordeal, Jake, who married his wife, Taylor, in July 2020 and welcomed their son in August 2022, tried to maintain a positive attitude. He sought creative ways to cope with his diagnosis. “I’m a creative at heart, so I turned my cancer experience into a creative endeavor. It helps me get through the day, and knowing it helps others too makes it worth it,” he explained.

He continued, “Having Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer means that I will always have cancer. I will be getting scans for the rest of my life. Scans are my life.” When Jake’s first post-surgery scan showed no new evidence of cancer, he initially felt that he was a “side-stepping disaster” when really, he said, “I should have been celebrating the good news.”

Beating Cancer One Small Victory at a Time

He and Taylor founded the “Good Scans Cans” initiative, to celebrate each good scan result by sharing a can of their favorite beverage. “We wanted a way to celebrate any sliver of good news.”

This simple act has blossomed into a community-supported movement, with friends and family joining in to celebrate Jake’s victories. “The first time we did it, I posted a photo on social media, and soon enough, my inbox was flooded with messages of support. It turned into something much bigger than we imagined,” Jake shared. The initiative not only provided emotional support but also raised awareness about neuroendocrine cancer.
Jake wants to multiply his impact even more. He will host a “Good Scan Cans” fundraiser in Omaha, Nebraska, on World NET Cancer Day, November 10, 2024. This event will raise awareness and funds for the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF), supporting vital research for neuroendocrine cancer.

You can be a part of Good Scan Cans from anywhere. Just raise a can of any beverage, post a selfie with the hashtag #GoodScanCans4NETRF, and make a gift to NETRF. Celebrate Jake’s scan, your good scan, a friend or family member’s good scan, or the progress made against neuroendocrine cancer. Or, toast to a future free of neuroendocrine cancer.